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Psychologist's study of emotion
attracts Pentagon support

January
22, 2009 -- How
emotion can transform angry groups into organizations of violence and
hostility is the subject of a new study that has attracted Pentagon funding.

SF State Professor David Matsumoto, a psychologist who researches emotion,
culture and social interaction, has been awarded a $1.9 million grant
to examine the role of emotions in ideologically-based groups. Matsumoto
is one of the first seven recipients of the U.S. Department of Defense's
new Minerva Research Initiative Awards.

Professor of Psychology David Matsumoto, who has
been awarded a Minerva grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.

"This research will fill a void in psychologists' understanding
of the role of specific emotions in groups," Matsumoto said. "Group
emotions are incredibly important in the creation and maintenance of
group identity, solidarity and overall functioning."

The five-year project will include seven studies including psychological
experiments and historical analysis of written and video records.

One of the first projects to start this year will involve analysis of
videotaped speeches given by high-profile leaders. "We'll be analyzing
the emotional language and metaphors used by leaders to refer to their
own groups and outside groups," Matsumoto said. "We are particularly
interested in how the priming of emotions such as anger, contempt and
disgust can propel group members to hostile actions against others."

Matsumoto will also be recruiting participants from organizations such
as religious, political or activist groups to take part in lab-based
experiments that will measure behaviors driven by specific emotions.

Matsumoto's research proposal was selected from among 211 white papers
submitted to the Department of Defense. The Minerva Initiative was established
by the Secretary of Defense in 2008 to bolster the department's intellectual
capital in the social sciences and build collaboration with the academic
community.

"This grant is about enabling basic scientific research," Matsumoto
said. "We'll do the research, and the Department of Defense will
apply it to their needs."

In addition to national defense, Matsumoto's groundbreaking research
on emotion, facial expressions and bodily gestures is being applied in
fields as diverse as immigration, athletics and business.